President: The Right Honourable

The Earl Bathurst

BARTON HOUSE ORCHARD WEEKEND 2015

The Cotswold Tree Warden Group were grateful to Frank and Marilyn Gardner for hosting another Community Orchard Weekend ( 17th/18th October 2015). Publicised on posters in town and through the Standard newspaper, the event's return is now eagerly anticipated by a number of locals, as well as being an attraction to visitors who hear about it. The crop across most of the varieties of apples was a good one this year and everyone seemed pleased to have the opportunity to come along and collect bags of apples in return for a donation to the group. Some people wanted just a few to eat or make a pie with. Others were looking to store, juice, or make cider. Our thanks go to Tim Donohoe, John Reynolds and Diane Cresswell for helping to greet and advise pickers. In addition, Cameron Gardner kindly made cupcakes to tempt further donations. Thanks go to all who supported us in this way.

TREE

AND LEAF

Autumn/

Winter

2015

COTSWOLD TREE WARDENS AGM 2015

Delegates to the AGM being addressed by Group Chairman, Mike Hartnell

The AGM this year was held at the Council Offices of Cotswold District Council in Cirencester on 24th September. Tree Wardens and friends were greeted with tea, coffee and cake on arrival before the formal part of the programme took place. Mike Hartnell gave a summary of the activities of the past year and Treasurer, Jan Mills introduced the annual accounts. Disappointingly, no new volunteers came forward to join the committee and as a result the existing committee and officers were re-elected for a further year. We then moved on to the evening's presentations: “Managing woodlands in the Cotswolds” was the title of the presentation given by Michael Hartnell of MDH Forestry Services Ltd. With the assistance of a number of slides Mike gave delegates an insight to the throws of the daily challenges faced by his consultancy business. The following is an extract :- "Having lived and been associated with private Estates all my life, forestry has been a continuous passion since the late 70s when I was fortunate to work under some very experienced foresters. One of the big challenges that faces me daily is retaining our fabulous landscape, whilst continuing with proactive forestry management. During any forestry intervention there have to be objectives agreed in advance and these need to be totally transparent for everyone to understand.

Produce a balance between commercial forestry, amenity and practicality.

Retain the landscape by continuous cover forestry

Sustainability

Identify final crops and the resource that was originally intended

Wildlife Most Cotswold woodlands have elements of natural landscape that needs protecting. I find it very challenging to retain the unique woodland structures that have been transformed by post war human intervention - some of these areas were completely destroyed and it has become many owners' desire to restructure and bring back these woodlands to their original state.

We are so lucky in the Cotswolds to have such a wealth of historic documentation, to the point that many of the Estates that I am involved with did have an association with Capability Brown, historically one of our best known landscape architects. In recent years the word diversification seems to be thrown about liberally. Yet for forestry management, the Cotswolds hold such a wide variety of tree species that we continue to maintain. We foresters make every effort to guide woodland owners away from monoculture structures which are so vulnerable to the tree diseases that we are faced with today. Of these, Ash trees are a major concern, especially as some areas of the Cotswolds have as much as 65% tree cover. As a final note, I am so pleased to be associated with the Cotswold Tree Wardens. The annual program produced each year, including our walks and talks, are vitally important and give a little insight into just how much woodland owners contribute to retain the beautiful Cotswold landscape that most take for granted." Mike also illustrated his talk with various exhibits which he passed round. These included his forestry medals, a fine wooden archery bow and a hurley, the wooden stick used in the Irish sport of hurling. Significantly the hurley is made from ash. The players get through a great quantity of hurleys and loss of ash supplies will be a big loss.

Our second speaker was Keith Mills, Head Forester for the Bathurst Estate, who gave an informative presentation on the latest position regarding Ash dieback. The first thing to note was that whilst many of us had become accustomed to the disease's Latin name of Chalara fraxinea, the correct terminology had been amended. As Chalara fraxinea is only the asexual stage of this fungal disease, a more accurate term is now Hymenoscyphus Fraxineus.

With the aid of slides Keith reminded us briefly of the spread of the disease from mainland Europe. In 2012 the areas impacted upon were mainly East Anglia and Kent. Now it is much more widespead, with significant pockets in Central Scotland, the North East, Lancashire/Yorkshire. It has been confirmed in this part of the country and Keith has found the first instances on the Bathurst Estate. As a result - one might say unfortunately - he was able to bring us genuine samples. Whilst it is useful to have, for instance, Forestry Commission and Tree Council information online to study, seeing ash that has succumbed is far more helpful. I had seen lesions and infected leaves in photos, but 'live' branches left a stronger impression, likely to help assessment of "Is it or isn't it Ash dieback?" in the field. However for those of you without access to specimens the following link, as used by Keith, leads to a Food and Environmental Agency video showing symptoms:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1GpufLkBto Keith explained that, so far as the Bathurst Estate is concerned, as they identify affected specimens the trees are being removed and burned, To date, it has only hit relatively recently planted trees. Both at home and through Europe it is still early days in assessing the eventual impact - whether the disease has peaked in certain countries such as Sweden and Denmark, what percentage of Ash trees will be affected etc Experience here still suggests it may be predominantly the young trees, though it may simply be that established ones could take longer for disease to become evident. A talking point in the tree world is what species may be planted in place of Ash. Keith suggested Limes, Alder [see Geoff's Gardening Corner later], Sycamore, Oaks, Birch and some Conifer species. Whatever is chosen, it will take some years before we see the result.

GEOFF'S GARDENING CORNER

Alder, The Cinderella Of Trees

One of an occasional series highlighting the qualities of lesser known garden features.

I believe the alder has an unfair reputation as the ugly sister to other more ornamental trees and that its commercial strengths have unjustifiably tarnished its use as a domestic option. Renowned for their ability to grow in poor, damp soils they are often planted by developers as a soil improving pioneer crop.

Because alder trees are regarded as a working tree, (they take toxins from contaminated soil) they tend to be overlooked by gardeners and designers as a domestic tree and they are seldom specified as street trees.

Although the reputation of the Italian alder (Alnus cordata) as a rapid grower contributes to their functional use it does have a magnificent conical shape and is ideal as a quick-fix focal point in a garden.

I recently took the opportunity to replace a troublesome willow in a small garden in Swindon with a less invasive but just as attractive alder.

Regulations for reclaiming brownfield sites state that they must not be planted within 6m (20 feet) of buried utilities.

Geoff Carr

IT MAY BE WINTER OUTSIDE, BUT IN MY GARDEN IT'S SPRING (with apologies to Barry White)

The Times on Saturday 12th December included an item in the Gardening section where it was suggested that it is a good time to prune Chaenomeles (Quince) to ensure a good supply of "bright flowers on bare twigs in spring". Coincidentally, only a few days earlier, in a break between the winds and rain, we had ventured down to the exposed end of our garden and spotted our own Chaenomeles happily budding. No doubt readers have similar stories from their own gardens. Why not share them with CTWG via the contact options on the back page?

GIFT OF BIRCH SAPLINGS BY ELMCROFT NURSERIES

At the Group AGM in September we were given some Birch saplings to hand out to interested parties. These were grown and donated by Elmcroft Nurseries, a.k.a. our RFS colleague Barrie Wellington.

At an earlier event, discussing diseases and Ash dieback, Barrie had put forward Birch as a possible alternative tree. He decided he would bring some along to the AGM for members to take away free of charge. Here they are introduced by Keith Mills at the conclusion of his presentation. Thanks again, Barrie!

VISIT TO NOTGROVE

Thriving - for now. A lone Ash at Notgrove

CTWG members were invited to join Royal Forestry Society members in September on a visit to a real Cotswold village - Notgrove. Our host was Harry Acland, essentially the centre of the village, for the family estate covers almost all of the property and land. As befits village life, the parish church of St Bartholomew almost adjoins the manor house. Within it lies a memorial to none other than Dick Whittington, whose family were connected with the area. How many people pass within a short distance of the village (up and down the Fosse Way) yet never know the charm of this rural retreat? But Notgrove once boasted a railway station - not alone in losing its connection in the1960s. The estate used to farm significant numbers of livestock, but tuberculosis, the poor quality of the elevated Cotswold brash landscape and - no doubt - technological advances caused the estate to look at ways of operating more efficiently. Opportunities for the commercial harvesting of timber on the estate were limited, partly due to the undulating ground and slow growth on poor soils. Little had been done with trees, mostly of a similar vintage, for many years. A programme was therefore put in place of thinning and improving the age structure of the woodland. But if the timber doesn't have commercial value, I hear you ask? Well, Harry worked out that some of the estate properties which weren't required by locals could be let as holiday properties, he redeveloped and extended barns to provide further modern accommodation. He has plans currently in place to erect and let yourts for more people who want to experience the country life and the Cotswolds in general. The manor and its surrounding properties require heating. And that is where the timber comes in! A log burner uses estate timber to heat and supply water for the main residences. The harvesting, when weather allows, and splitting of timber when it isn't fit to work outdoors, provides employment. The resulting logs and kindling of varying proportions supply the ready market of residents and holidaymakers alike. And that, you will instantly realise, makes for a good carbon footprint. Mr Acland is currently looking at producing miscanthus, a low-carbon sustainable biomass fuel crop. This is modern farming in an old village setting. And a splendid visit!

WINTER AT BATSFORD ARBORETUM

Christmas is just around the corner and our fantastic selection of Norway and Nordmann Spruce Christmas trees are now available, plus holly, mistletoe and beautiful handmade wreaths. We’ve got some lovely Christmas decorations to choose from too and our gift and garden shops are stocked up with plenty of ideas for stocking fillers. If you’re looking for a very special gift this Christmas, why not buy a season ticket for a friend (or yourself!). They’re great value at just £35 (or £58 for two people), giving year-round access to our beautiful arboretum. Gift vouchers for our garden centre and café are also available. We’re open every day except Christmas Day over the festive period and, as usual, will be offering a free glass of mulled wine to arboretum visitors on Boxing Day when we’re open between 10 and 3pm. We had an extraordinary amount of visitors to see our spectacular autumn colour in the arboretum thanks to the (mostly) dry weather -however, there’s plenty to enjoy in the depths of winter too. Wrap up warm and meander along paths beside frozen streams and ponds and, if you’re lucky, the whole arboretum takes on a magical quality when covered in a coating of ice. It’s a wonderful chance to see the arboretum in all its deep midwinter glory, with the colourful stems of cornus and magnificent structure of the trees - the stars of the show. From late January, the arboretum is alive with aconites, drifts of beautiful snowdrops and daffodils. We wish you all a very peaceful Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Batsford Arboretum & Garden Centre

Batsford, Nr. Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 9AD 01386 701441 www.batsarb.co.uk

Winter at Batsford Arboretum

We are open every day from 10amto 5 pm

- 55 acres of breathtaking trees and wild garden - - Freshly-baked food in the Garden Terrace Café -

- Beautiful, quality plants, gifts & garden sundries - - Expert gardening advice -

- Unique, shabby chic interior design ideas from the Applestore - - Family fun in the Cotswold Falconry Centre -

LEARNING WITH THE RFS

The mature oak wood visited at the Bathurst Estate

Tree Wardens were invited to join the last Gloucestershire RFS event of the year in October. Though the sun was absent, we were fortunate to have mild weather for this afternoon visit to the Bathurst Estate, Cirencester, this time in the vicinity of Hailey Wood Sawmill off the Cirencester to Stroud road. Joined by our host Earl Bathurst, the event was specially structured to accommodate students with links to forestry. The visit was jointly led by CTWG committee member Keith Mills, Head Forester of the Bathurst Estate, and David Lewis, Senior Lecturer at the Royal Agricultural University and also a committee member of the RFS. One of the key aims of the RFS is education and it is recognised that the future of forestry lies with the younger age group. To encourage and support the next generation of foresters and forestry managers is therefore crucial. It was therefore satisfying that all 35 M.Sc. Rural Estate Management course members from the RAU attended, as well as a group from Pershore College. With the addition of some 30 RFS members, Tree Wardens and others, we therefore had an excellent turnout in excess of 70. With limited daylight available, to make best use of our time we stayed close to our starting point at the sawmill. Nevertheless, we were able to visit parcels of Norway spruce, Beech and Oak as well as cut timbers from around the estate stacked ready for use or forwarding on elsewhere. The focus of the visit was the sale and marketing of timber. To some of us trees may be considered only in aesthetic terms, in their own right or as part of a landscape. The forester however, whilst appreciating a tree in these terms, must primarily consider its value - it is after all a crop. Few landowners can allow the heart total domination of the wallet. Thus, foresters need to consider not only the current value of the timber in a tree, but also what it might achieve in the future. This can be affected not only by its environment, e.g. soil, climate, but also the other trees around it. Is the tree 'good for purpose'? A tree with bends, splits or many branches may be unsuitable, for instance, for use in furniture or housebuilding. By harvesting the unsuitable and less desirable - through thinning - it will allow better specimens to develop to their full potential. Only through good teaching and experience will the forester learn the art of managing woodland.

We considered the pros and cons of selling timber standing and at roadside. A contractor will clearly pay less for timber which he must cut himself. How good is the access? Can he use a modern harvester? This will be expensive but relatively quick. With poor access it may be more labour intensive. If the forester/landowner uses his own staff and transports it to the roadside, a higher return may be achieved. However if it stays there too long it may deteriorate or even be stolen. Does the forester sell by traditional contract negotiation, perhaps to preferred regular clients? Or might it be beneficial to sell by modern electronic auction? There will be many issues to consider beyond the layman's aesthetic view of the tree. Did you realise that a tree can be too big? A buyer will want logs or sawn timber to meet specific uses, depending of course on the species. If however a tree grows beyond a practical length or diameter, wastage may become an issue. You have to know your market. That market may also change. Where once there may have been a choice of takers for a certain timber, economic or other conditions may dictate that by the time your carefully nurtured trees have grown to a suitable size (You can't rush a tree), the market has disappeared, or diminished to the extent that the only takers are based at a considerable distance. This will affect the price too, as transporting timber costs money. Perhaps you may only be left with sale as firewood, sometimes a good choice, but perhaps less valuable than if sold for more positive purposes. And don't think the issues end there. Has the timber been devalued by disease or by animals? - grey squirrels and deer are foremost amongst the forester's enemies. Nor can you automatically harvest timber just because it fits your growth/thinning plans. If you have protected species present, such as bats or dormice, you may simply not be able to lift so much as a chainsaw. Hopefully the afternoon gave a useful insight not only to the students, but to those of us outside professional forestry who are students of life and of the countryside. We all may view the trees, the woods, the forests from a different angle, but essentially we are all interested in and passionate about trees.

COTSWOLD TREE WARDEN GROUP - FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Just because we are in the winter season, it doesn't mean nothing is happening. Just as our trees and plants are preparing themselves for a new season to come, so is your Committee. So here are details of the 2016 events arranged so far: Please note that there is a contribution of £2 per person for each event (unless otherwise stated) to assist towards group costs. Saturday 6th February 2016 Coppicing and hedgelaying - at Whichford Wood, Shipston-on-Stour and Ditchford, Moreton-in-Marsh Another opportunity to experience this practical skill. Get the satisfaction of seeing an end result and working as part of a team. Cost £5 for Tree Wardens and £10 for others. Wednesday 2nd March 2016 Orchard Training, Barton House Orchard, Cirencester Dave Kaspar will once again be our trainer as we continue to learn how to prolong the life and productivity of fruit trees. The charge for this course is £10. Thursday 14th April 2016 Joint meeting with the RFS - Illustrated talks - Geoff March entitled Scenes from an Arboricultural Consultant's life. Barrie Wellington and Mike Hartnell will give a presentation on Trees from Nursery to Planting and Management - at Cirencester Wednesday 25th May 2016 - May Walk at Eyford Park, Upper Slaughter This will be an evening event. Further details will be published later. Full details for these and other events as they arise can be found at our website - details on the back page including booking arrangements.

OUT AND ABOUT

When you feel you've been sitting around too much with nothing to attract you to the great outdoors, pull on those boots and head to Colesbourne for the spectacular Snowdrop Open Days! Please see below for details of their 2016 openings.

Galanthus Elwesii at Colesbourne - February 2015

APPLE VARIETIES

Since the Group has been in contact with our friends, the Gardners at Barton House Orchard, Cirencester, we have made an attempt to identify some of the varieties of the apple trees there. Many of the trees are rather old and hadn't been maintained for quite some time before the Gardners took over the orchard. When we were preparing for this year's Community Orchard Days, it was noticed that one of the trees - previously rather unproductive - had a modest crop, but of apples of a considerable size.

Trying one, it seemed a very acceptable eater, but having no idea as to its variety, we took one to our experts, Dave Kaspar and Helen Brent-Smith of Day's Cottage, Brookthorpe. Independently of each other, both Dave and Helen, took about a second to identify our apple as being Charles Ross! It is one of the many varieties at the G.O.T. (Gloucestershire Orchard Trust) museum orchard, also sited in Brookthorpe. And here is just a reminder that Tree Wardens, via the Cotswold Tree Warden Group, are members of G.O.T. Follow this link to the website:

http://gloucestershireorchardtrust.org.uk/ If you are interested in getting to know more about Charles Ross or other apple varieties and other orchard fruit, Orange Pippin is an informative site, including origins and descriptions of many apples: http://www.orangepippin.com/

WANTED! - LITTLE OWLS

"Little Owl (9435482411).jpg by Ian Kirk is licensed under CC by 2.0"

The Gloucestershire Raptor Monitoring Group may be unfamiliar to you. The group has recently passed its first anniversary, but as part of its work with birds of prey has already erected over 80 Tawny Owl nest boxes through the county. They are now turning their attention to the Little Owl. This is linked to a countywide survey and a national one planned to run from 2016 to 2019. It is believed there is a direct correlation between Little Owls and orchards. The Group would like to hear from you if you are aware of an orchard with Little Owls in both winter and spring/summer. Additionally, they are able to offer next boxes to your orchard or one you have access to. The boxes are free of charge and advice will be given on siting and monitoring. They have a website at www.glosraptors.co.uk and can be contacted via Andrew Bluett on e-mail: andrewb55@btinternet.com or phone: 01452 610085

TREE AND LEAF

ETC.

Have you or your parish any interesting items or events which you would like to report on in Tree and Leaf?

Have you places to visit you wish to share?

Please submit any articles to Ann Jones, either electronically to twgcotswold@yahoo.co.uk or by post addressed to 161 Alexander Drive, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1UQ.

Visit The Cotswold Tree Warden Group Website http://www.cotswoldtreewardengroup.org.uk/

COTSWOLD TREE WARDEN GROUP - SUPPORTED BY:

BATSFORD ARBORETUM AND GARDEN CENTRE,

CHARLTON ABBOTTS FORESTRY LTD,

COTSWOLD ESTATES AND GARDENS LTD,

COTSWOLD TREE SURGEONS,

FARMINGTON TREES,

MDH FORESTRY SERVICES LTD,

TREE MAINTENANCE LTD.

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